Soils of Mtibwa sugar estate: some physical and chemical properties and their effect on crop performance under sprinkler irrigation
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Date
1995
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
A study was conducted in Mtibwa Sugar Estate, Morogoro, to
causes
production.
This
for
involved
in sugarcane
soil physical
decline
observed
detailed
characterization of affected areas and that of a bare area.
Quality of water for irrigation was also studied.
The results showed that the salt affected blocks have sandy
loam topsoil overlying sandy clay subsoil of low permeability
(0.5 - 0.9 m/day) . The electrical conductivity of saturation
extract is low to medium (1.15
3.7 dS/m);
the level of
sodium is very high throughout the profiles of affected
blocks (above 2.0 cmol( + )/kg); the calcium content is very
low to low (1.10 - 3.39 cmol( + )/kg) while that of magnesium
is moderate (1.5 - 2.39 cmol(+)/kg).
j.t was
Gleyic
concluded that the soil of the affected fields is
Cambisol
Classification.
It
according
was
to
classified
FAO-UNESCO
as
Typic
(1989)
Tropaquept
according to United States Department of Agriculture Soil
Classification System (Soil Survey Staff, 1990).
The soil of the non affected field was found to be in the
subgroup Typic Ustipsamment (USDA Soil Taxonomy) .
It wasclassified as
Umbric Regosol (FAO-UNESCO Classification) .
According to FAO (1976) land suitability classification, the
affected fields studied are marginally suitable while the non
affected field is moderately suitable.
The electrical conductivity of the irrigation water is low
(0.09
dS/m)
and that of the groundwater of
field
10E
is
medium (0.55 dS/m). The sodium content in irrigation water is
low (0.2 meq/1) but very high (56.35 - 71.04 meq/1) in the
groundwater of the affected fields. It was also noted that
the chloride content of the groundwater of the affected
fields is very high (145.0 - 236.0 meq/1).
It was concluded that salinity, sodium and chloride toxicity
are the main problems responsible for the declining sugarcane
production at Mtibwa Sugar Estate. The Mtibwa Sugar Company
is thus urged to look for means of correcting the observed
problems for example by establishing a drainage system for
the Estate. The adoption of this suggestion will of course be
determined by the economics involved as will be reflected in
the drainage plans and designs.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Mtibwa Sugar Estate, Sugercane production, Crop performance, Chemical properties